Jacket for an earring stud

ABSTRACT

A jacket for an earring stud having a post is provided. The jacket includes a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer. The connecting member may pierce the ear or frictionally engage the ear to secure the earring in place. The jacket includes an ornamental section which is carried by the connecting member and incorporates a selected jewelry design. In one embodiment, the ornamental section comprises a gemstone mount for securing a plurality of gemstones on the connecting member. A stud mount is joined with the ornamental section and defines an opening proportioned for receiving the post of a stud which can be releasably mounted thereon and changed as necessary or desired to change the color and/or configuration of the jacket. In one embodiment, the design member of the ornamental section can be interchanged with other selected design members to alter the appearance of the jacket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to jewelry, and more particularly concerns a jacket which can be connected to the earlobe of a wearer and which carries an earring stud having a post, which can penetrate the piercing of a wearer's ear. Alternatively, the earring stud can be removed from the jacket and worn by itself.

2. Background

In the field of jewelry and particularly earrings, it is desirable to combine jewelry components which produce different appearances and designs. In this manner, various jewelry options can be displayed without the need for buying an excessive number of pieces. Moreover, it is desirable to combine studs with other earring components to vary the appearances and color of earrings having common components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a jacket for an earring stud is provided. The jacket includes a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer. An ornamental section is carried by the connecting member, such as a piercing hoop, and the ornamental section is provided with a selected jewelry design component. In one embodiment, this jewelry design component includes a gemstone mount. In another embodiment, jewelry design components are provided and can be interchanged. A stud mount may be joined with the ornamental section and may define an opening proportioned for receiving the post of the stud which can be releasably mounted therein. The stud can be replaced with alternate designs as necessary or desired to change the appearance of the earring.

Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following example embodiments are representative of a jacket for an earring stud having a post which can be replaceably mounted thereon. In the accompanying drawings, and illustrations, the sizes and shapes may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments may be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an earring including a jacket for an earring stud having a post, and an earring stud mounted on the jacket, according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 1B shows the earring stud removed from the jacket to enable the stud to be worn by itself;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the jacket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the jacket shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the jacket shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 combined with the earring stud mounted on the jacket;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the jacket and earring stud shown in FIG. 4 with a spring-biased back clasp opened such that the hoop can be secured within the piercing of a wearer's earlobe;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of a jacket including a screw back connector having a threaded post for securing the earring to a wearer's earlobe according to another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of a jacket including cooperating clasps, one of which is spring-biased, that secure the earring to a wearer's earlobe according to still another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation of an alternative jacket having a replaceable ornamental section design component mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the jacket shown on FIG. 8 including detents on the lower portion of the design component;

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of the ornamental section base shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 with the design component removed to illustrate the slots receiving the detents shown in FIG. 9 to join the ornamental section design component with the base;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded side elevation of a jacket having an alternative ornamental section design component ready to be mounted on the base.

FIG. 12 illustrates the jacket of FIG. 11 with the detents of the ornamental design component inserted into the slots of the base and readied for sliding into position in the direction of the arrow 38;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the jacket shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 with the replaceable ornamental section design component moved into position for wearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to various examples of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1A illustrates an earring 10 a constructed in accordance with various features of the present general inventive concept, this example embodiment including a jacket 12 a and an earring stud 14 having a post 16 mounted on the jacket 12 a. FIG. 1B shows the earring stud 14 removed from the jacket 12 a and worn without the cooperating jacket as desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the jacket 12 a shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the jacket 12 a shown in FIGS. 1-2. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 4, the earring 10 a of this example embodiment incorporates the jacket 12 a that is configured for the earring stud 14 of conventional design to be mounted thereon. FIG. 4 illustrates the jacket 12 a of FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3 combined with the earring stud 14 mounted on the jacket 12 a as will be described in greater detail below. The earring stud 14 incorporates a post 16 and a fiction clutch 18 that fits over a distal end of the post 16 and secures the stud in position on the jacket 12 a. In this example embodiment the jacket 12 a includes a connecting member 20 a which comprises a hoop 22 (see FIG. 2) that is curved and designed to penetrate an earlobe piercing to mount the earring 10 a on the earlobe of a wearer.

The hoop 22 is connected to an ornamental section 24 a as shown in FIGS. 2-4. The ornamental section 24 a in the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4 incorporates a gemstone mount which receives a plurality of gemstones, glass, crystals, or the like, to enhance the ornamental feature of the jacket 12 a. It will be recognized that these gemstones may be fabricated from various materials or colors to enhance the attractiveness of the jacket 12 a.

The jacket 12 a further includes a stud mount 26 which is shown in FIGS. 2-4. This stud mount 26 in the illustrated embodiment defines a post opening 28 at its distal end which is proportioned for receiving the post 16 of the stud 14. The stud 14 can be secured in position with the friction clutch 18 shown in FIG. 4, which is joined with the distal end of the post 16. It will be noted that this clutch can be secured in position as shown in FIG. 4 or removed to allow removal of the stud, as necessary or desired, and the replacement with another stud to alter the design or colored appearance of the earring. It will be noted that different types of post and clutch designs may readily be used without varying from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the jacket 12 a and earring stud 14 shown in FIG. 4 with back clasp 30 opened such that the hoop 22 can be secured within the piercing of a wearer's earlobe. After the earring is secured by extending the hoop 22 through the piercing in a wearer's earlobe, the clasp 30, which is spring-biased in this example embodiment of the present general inventive concept, and which may be mounted proximate the stud mount 26 as shown in FIG. 5, is rotated back toward the hoop 22 in the direction of the arrow 32 to join with the hoop 22 to secure the earring 10 in position on the wearer's earlobe.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of a jacket 12 b including cooperating connecting members 20 a having a threaded post for securing the earring to a wearer's earlobe according to another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. More specifically, in the example embodiment shown in FIG. 6, one of the connecting members 20 a is a screw back connector having a threaded post that is configured to advance one of a pair of cooperating connecting members such that the earlobe can be gripped therebetween to mount the earring on the wearer's ear. This type of connecting member can be used by a wearer whose ears have not been pierced.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of a jacket 12 c including a connecting members having cooperating connecting members 20 c, one of which is spring-biased, that secure the earring to a wearer's earlobe according to still another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the connecting members include cooperating clasps generally illustrated as a fixed clasp member and a cooperating clasp member that is spring-biased and rotatably mounted proximate the stud mount 26 as shown, such that the cooperating clasps can grip the wearer's earlobe when the clasps 20 c are closed as is shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a jacket 12 d having an ornamental section 24 b that includes a design component 25 a which is releasably attached to a base 27 joined with the connecting member 20 a. As shown in FIG. 9, the ornamental design component 25 a includes detents 32 that can be inserted into the registering slots 34 of the design section base as shown in FIG. 10. To this end, the enlarged portions of the detents 32 are inserted into the enlarged sections of the slots 34 shown in FIG. 10. The ornamental design component 25 a is then slid into position as will be described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 12 to lock the ornamental design component 25 a on the base 27.

FIGS. 11 and 12 shows a further ornamental section 12 c with detents 32. This ornamental section 24 c comprises a design component 25 c having a selected design such as the one shown in the plan view of FIG. 13. The ornamental section design component 25 c carries the detents 32 having enlarged portions as shown which are inserted into the enlarged sections of the slots 34 similar to the slots shown in the ornamental section base 27 (See FIG. 10). The ornamental section design component 25 c is then slid into position in the direction of the arrow 38 until it is aligned with the base 27 as shown in FIG. 13. It will be recognized that various other designs can be used on the ornamental component 25 c shown in FIG. 13.

Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a jacket for an earring stud having a post, the jacket including a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer, an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section comprising a selected jewelry design, and a stud mount joined proximate said ornamental section and defining an opening therein proportioned for receiving the post of said stud which can be releasably mounted thereon. The connecting member may include a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of a wearer. The connecting member may include a pair of cooperating clips which hold the earring on the earlobe of a wearer. The selected jewelry design may include a gemstone mount configured to selectively receive a plurality of gemstones or an alternative design that illustrates an artistic rendering or the like.

Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a jacket for an earring stud, the jacket including a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer, said connecting member comprising a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of a wearer, an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section can include a gemstone mount configured to selectively receive a plurality of gemstones or an alternative design. A stud mount is joined proximate the ornamental section; and defines an opening therethrough proportioned for receiving the post of a stud which can be releasably mounted therein.

Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, or any particular interrelationship of such elements.

It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings included in the present application do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modification, and additional embodiments are possible, and, accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. 

1. A jacket for an earring stud having a post, the jacket comprising: a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer; an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a selectively removable jewelry design component, said ornamental section configured with a planar surface such that said jewelry design component is mountable on the planar surface of said ornamental section while the connecting member is received in an earlobe piercing of a wearer; and a stud mount joined proximate said ornamental section and defining an opening therein proportioned for receiving the post of said stud which can be releasably mounted thereon.
 2. The jacket of claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of the wearer.
 3. The jacket of claim 1, wherein said connecting member includes a pair of cooperating clips which hold the earring on the earlobe of a wearer.
 4. The jacket of claim 1, wherein said selected jewelry design component comprises a gemstone mount configured to selectively receive a plurality of gemstones, glass, crystals, or the like.
 5. The jacket of claim 1 wherein said selected jewelry design component comprises a member having a selected design placed thereon.
 6. A jacket for an earring stud, the jacket including: a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer, said connecting member comprising a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of a wearer; an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a gemstone mount having one or more registering slots configured to selectively receive one or more detents respectively provided on a plurality of gemstones, glass, crystals, or the like, the detents having enlarged sections at distal ends thereof to fit in enlarged sections of the registering slots; and a stud mount joined proximate the ornamental section, and defining an opening therethrough proportioned for receiving the post of a stud which can be releasably mounted therein, and such that the post extends through the stud mount to be secured by a friction clutch behind the stud mount.
 7. A combination earring including: an earring stud having a post and a friction clutch; a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer; an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a planar base and a design component, said design component having one or more detents configured to be releasably mounted in a keyhole slot fitting on a front of said planar base for interchangeability; and a stud mount joined proximate said ornamental section base and defining an opening therein proportioned for receiving the post of said stud, which can be releasably mounted thereon, such that a distal end of said stud extends out of a distal end of said opening to be secured therein by said friction clutch.
 8. The combination earring of claim 7, wherein the one or more detents have enlarged portions at distal ends thereof configured to fit into an enlarged section of the keyhole slot fitting and to slide to a point at which the enlarged portion of the detents are spaced away from the corresponding enlarged sections of the keyhole slot fitting when the design component is mounted on the planar base. 